Le Bistrot de la Place
What to order: the €25 lunchtime menu on the terrace facing the cathedral
Open Sunday lunchtime; closed Monday
geocalia
Day itinerary · 49.21° N · 2.59° E
Senlis and Chantilly in a day, 45 minutes from Paris on the A1.
Senlis's Gothic cathedral and Gallo-Roman wall, lunch at the Bistrot de la Place, its museum and, a quarter of an hour away, Chantilly château and the Condé museum.
Leaving from
Direct flight to París fromBarcelona 1 h 45Bilbao 1 h 45Madrid 2 hValencia 2 hSevilla 2 h 30Málaga 2 h 45Fuerteventura 4 h 15Lanzarote 4 h 15Gran Canaria 4 h 30Tenerife Sur 4 h 30
Part of Senlis
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car45 min each way
From ParisCar · 45 min
SenlisCathedral free · museum €7
DifficultyEasy
Cost€55–85 pp
Best daySunday
With childrenYes
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Paris 45 min by car
A1, exit 8 Senlis
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1
Notre-Dame de Senlis Cathedral
free · video guide from the tourist office
- Carry on on foot
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2
The Circuit through the Medieval Town and the Gallo-Roman Wall
Gallo-Roman wall, royal castle and Saint-Frambourg chapel
- Carry on on foot
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3
Le Bistrot de la Place
facing the cathedral · open on Sunday until 16:00
4 place Notre-Dame, 60300 Senlis
Restaurant €€Book - Carry on on foot
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4
The Senlis Museum of Art and Archaeology
€7 · free for under-26s
- 15 min by car11 km
- 5
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Back home 45 min by car
A1 or A3 to Paris
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Notre-Dame de Senlis Cathedral
Senlis is the medieval town that almost nobody visits from Paris, and it is 45 minutes along the A1. This Sunday combines its cathedral, Gallo-Roman wall and museum with Chantilly château, a quarter of an hour away: Gothic stone in the morning and the Duke of Aumale's paintings in the afternoon.
The day, hour by hour
9:00 · Departure. A1 to exit 8 Senlis. Park outside the cobbled centre.
9:45 · The cathedral. One of the first Gothic cathedrals in France, free. The tourist office, on the same square, has a guide in ten videos for your phone.
10:30 · The medieval town. The signed circuit passes the 3rd-century wall, the Capetians' royal château and the Saint-Frambourg chapel, with windows by Miró.
12:30 · Lunch at the Bistrot de la Place. Home-style seasonal cooking facing the cathedral; on Sundays it is open until 16:00.
14:00 · The Art and Archaeology Museum. In the former bishop's palace: Augustomagus, medieval sculpture and Séraphine Louis's video mapping. €7.
15:30 · Chantilly château. A quarter of an hour by car. The Condé museum and the park with the day ticket, €18; in November, the château closes at 17:00.
17:30 · Back to Paris.
Is it for me?
If you have already seen Versailles and want something quiet, yes. With children, swap Chantilly for Parc Astérix when it is open. Without a car it can be done the other way round: train to Chantilly-Gouvieux, château, and bus 645 to Senlis.
Time45 min
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
La Brasserie du Cerf
What to order: a dish from the seasonal menu in the winter garden
Tuesday to Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday
Restaurant of the Hostellerie de la Porte Bellon
What to order: an aperitif in the 13th-century Gothic cellar and regional cooking on the terrace
Closed Sunday; Monday dinner only
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Senlis
All year, best on a Sunday or Wednesday to Saturday. The Senlis museum is closed Monday and Tuesday and Chantilly château on Tuesdays and from 4 to 22 January.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Better on a Sunday
The Bistrot de la Place and the two museums are open; Chantilly is closed on Tuesdays.
- 2First Sunday of the month
The Senlis museums are free.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does this day trip cost?
Between €55 and €85 per person with the museum, Chantilly and lunch, without petrol.
Can it be done without a car?
Yes, with a train to Chantilly-Gouvieux and bus 645 between Chantilly and Senlis.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/france/hauts-de-france/senlis/itineraries/senlis-city-of-kings-and-chantilly
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.